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James LeGros, Maura Tierney, Christopher Walken, Kevin Corrigan, James Rebhorn ... see more see more... , Tom Guiry , Amy Smart , Timothy "Speed" Levitch , Andy Dick , Richard Shepard , Timothy Levich

What happens if you take one of William Shakespeare's darkest tragedies and move it to a burger joint in the early 1970s? The answer can be found in the satiric comedy Scotland, PA, the first feature ... read more read more...from writer and director Billy Morrissette. Mac McBeth (James LeGros) is a hard-working but unambitious doofus who toils at a hamburger stand alongside his wife Pat (Maura Tierney), who has a significant edge in the brains department. Pat is convinced she could do a lot better with the place than their boss Norm Duncan (James Rebhorn) is doing, so she works up a plan to usurp Norm, convincing Mac to rob the restaurant's safe and then murder Norm, using the robbery as a way of throwing the police off their trail. Though two stoners (Andy Dick and Timothy Speed Levitch) and a would-be fortune teller (Amy Smart) warn Mac that bad luck awaits him, he gathers his courage and goes through with his wife's scheme. At first, things seem to have gone just as Pat hoped, and after Norm's sons (Geoff Dunsworth and Tom Guiry) sell the restaurant to the McBeths (they pay for it with the money they stole from Norm), business takes off. But vegetarian police detective McDuff (Christopher Walken) is convinced there's foul play at the new center of the fast food universe, and when the McBeths fear that fry cook Banco (Kevin Corrigan) knows more than he's letting on, Pat decides another murder is on the menu. Scotland, PA premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival; incidentally, Shakespeare does receive screen credit for his contribution to the story. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

73% liked it

5,586 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

74 critics

R, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Billy Morrissette

Release Date: January 22, 2001

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DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002

Stats: 369 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (369)

  • jjnxn
    February 9, 2012
    jjnxn
    A bit bumpy in execution but an interesting take on updating MacBeth.
  • aliceinpunderland
    April 5, 2009
    aliceinpunderland
    70s-tastic! Clever adaptation of Macbeth with modern kills, dynasties, and sexplay. Maura Tierney is hot.
  • puffchunk
    March 15, 2008
    puffchunk
    Terrible. This goes to show that Christopher Walken really will do anything he is offered. It also proves that Andy Dick must die. Only good part: McBeth shoves a hamburger in vegetarian Walkens mouth as he tries to kill him.
  • binky013
    February 25, 2008
    binky013
    To become king -- of the fast food industry. A wonderful transposition of the MacBeth tragedy. Yeah, it's true, a thousand years ago I guess killing MacDuff's family might have somehow helped expedite the plan, but we're talking the 1970s here, so it really strikes me as more e... read morefficient to get right to the root of the problem: Will the power driven James LeGros, spurred by his ruthless soulmate, kill big city cop Chris Walken before the wily veteran vegetarian detective discovers the truth about this twisted couple's grisly push to the top of all fast foodom?

    The biggest revelation for me in this one is the job Maura Tierney does of descending very believably into the depths of madness. As Lady MacBeth, she works that oil burn as the sign of blood on her hands to true perfection.

    If for nothing else --

    although it is Shakespeare, after all, so even if it sucked, I'd still feel a need to give it a viewing --

    you must see this for Tierney's performance. I'm pretty sure she's a TV veteran, although I don't know what show(s), but I really cannot remember ever seeing her in films before. I can't even guess how old she might be, but she is a comer. I'll be on the lookout for more good work from her. A late bloomer perhaps?
  • ceWEBrity
    February 15, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Shakespeare's Macbeth plus the fast food industry = awesome comedy movie. Set in the mid-70s, this movie takes the classic tale of betrayal and guilt and deep-fries it to glorious golden perfection. This is an extremely well-thought out, clever and most importantly funny comedy. ... read moreAny movie that can make Andy Dick tolerable MUST be worth watching.
  • gator681
    January 28, 2005
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic][color=darkgreen]"Scotland, Pa" is a deliciously off-beat updating of Shakespeare's MacBeth moved forward in time to small town 70's Pennsylvania. James LeGros and Maura Tierney play Joe and Pat McBeth who work in a fast food restaurant. They are a poor but... read more ambitious couple who aim for better things. And if that leads to robbery and murder, than so be it. Which brings us to Christopher Walken playing a vegetarian detective, named Lieutenant McDuff. I was very pleasantly surprised by how faithful this movie was to its original source material with a few original touches thrown in. For example, the witches are a trio of hippies haunting a disused carnival played by of all people - Andy Dick, Timothy Speed Levitch and Amy Smart.(I know that sounds strange but it works wonderfully.) Just as importantly, the 70's production design is spot on.[/color][/font]
  • danieljparsons
    April 17, 2007
    danieljparsons
    Greasy Spoon, Bloody Murder.

    Writer/Director Billy Morrissette has made a really fantastic film here - an updating of Macbeth, changing the setting to a fast food joint in Scotland, Pennsylvania (see what they did there?) in the 1970's.

    Rather than a tragedy, ... read morethe film plays as a black comedy with tragic undertones, mostly played for laughs with an excellent cast. Maura Tierney is truly terrific as Pat McBeth, getting the character just the right shades of wisecracking, manipulative and sympathetic. James LeGros is solid as ever as 'Mac' McBeth, and Christopher Walken is very funny without resorting to his usual creepy shtick. There's also a nice cameo from Amy Smart.

    There are some really great touches here - I particularly liked how the "washing of the blood" from Lady Macbeth's hands is updated, and how the ghostly visions Mac has are filmed. Great stuff, and I *love* the soundtrack.
  • smootysveen
    May 11, 2008
    smootysveen
    Andy Dick has never been better cast. I think in my heart of hearts I always knew he was a weird sister/stoner.
  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    A personal favorite. Love it!
  • FanGirl
    March 25, 2007
    FanGirl
    MacBeth in a hamburger joint. Do I really need to say anything more? One of my favorite Shakespear to film out there.

View All Scotland, PA. Reviews

Critic Reviews

David Rooney
May 20, 2008
David Rooney, Variety

Offers more mild amusement than outright laughs... Full Review

Steven Rosen
May 10, 2002
Steven Rosen, Denver Post

There are some truly wacky parallels with Shakespeare's play. Full Review

Desson Thomson
March 22, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

It's simple, sizzly and very funny.

Ann Hornaday
March 22, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

The fun is infectious -- the puns, in-jokes and referential asides will keep Shakespeare buffs busy and the rest of the audience entertained even as some punch lines zing over their heads.

Rex Reed
March 13, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

A trailer-trash version of Macbeth that should be avoided like an Elizabethan pox.

Joe Baltake
March 8, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Scotland, Pa. is a strangely drab romp. Some studio pizazz might have helped. Full Review

Susan Stark
March 8, 2002
Susan Stark, Detroit News

... the quality of the material is scattered and uneven. Full Review

Terry Lawson
March 8, 2002
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

... plays like one of those lampoons put on by lawyers (and journalists), the kind that start out amusing and end up grasping for gags. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 7, 2002
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Earns its laughs from stock redneck 'types' and from the many, many moments when we recognize even without the Elizabethan prose, the play behind the thing.

Eric Harrison
March 1, 2002
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

None of this is very original, and it isn't particularly funny. Full Review

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Scotland, PA. Trivia

  • What film is this quote from; "If you could go up to the bar, buy us some beers, bring them over then walk away - that would be a little slice of heaven."  Answer »
  • Where does Joe work in the film Scotland PA ?  Answer »
  • What is Joes wifes name in the film Scotland PA ?  Answer »
  • what is Joes and Pats Boss name In Scotland PA ?  Answer »
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